Chapter 8 - The Mafia Boss Who Chose Me Over His Empire|
Sofia and I escaped through the café's kitchen.
The owner protested until Sofia pushed several hundred euros into his hand.
Then we ran.
Down a narrow alley.
Past overflowing flower stalls.
Through a courtyard where laundry fluttered above our heads.
My lungs burned.
Sofia stumbled beside me.
Her expensive heels were useless on the wet cobblestones.
Finally, we reached a small church.
The doors were open.
We slipped inside.
The sudden silence felt unreal.
Sofia collapsed onto a wooden pew.
I stood near the entrance, watching the street.
"Who are those men?" I whispered.
"My father's security team."
"Why would he want you dead?"
She looked up.
"Because I was supposed to bring you to him."
My stomach dropped.
"What?"
Sofia's eyes filled with tears.
"The phone call. The photograph. The engagement. It was all supposed to make you come to me."
I stared.
"You set me up?"
"At first."
I stepped backward.
"Unbelievable."
"Elena, please."
I shook my head.
"Everyone uses me. My father. Marius. Marco. And now you."
Sofia began crying.
"I know."
I looked toward the altar.
For one terrible moment, I wanted to disappear.
To become someone ordinary.
Someone whose biggest worry was paying rent or getting to work on time.
But I wasn't that woman anymore.
I was Elena Volkov.
Daughter of a man who might have murdered a mafia patriarch.
Assistant to the man who'd once been ordered to kill him.
And apparently the center of a conspiracy that had been unfolding for decades.
Sofia wiped her cheeks.
"My father wants the recording."
"Then why involve me?"
"Because Sergei won't meet anyone except you."
I stared.
"My father contacted me once."
"Then he'll contact you again."
I folded my arms.
"And what happens if I refuse?"
Sofia looked away.
"He'll find another way."
I took a breath.
Then I switched on my phone.
Seventeen missed calls.
Marius.
Four from Dimitri.
Two unknown numbers.
And one message.
Elena, wherever you are, please tell me you're safe. I won't come unless you ask. — M
My eyes filled with tears.
I called him.
He answered immediately.
"Elena?"
His voice broke.
"Are you safe?"
"For now."
"Where are you?"
I hesitated.
Then told him.
"Marius, Sofia is with me."
Silence.
Then he said:
"Is she hurt?"
I looked at Sofia.
"No."
"Good."
He paused.
"Do you want help?"
The question nearly undid me.
Not an order.
Not a demand.
A choice.
"Yes," I whispered.
"I'm coming."
Twenty minutes later, Marius entered the church.
He wore a dark coat over a black shirt.
Rain dampened his hair.
His eyes found mine immediately.
For a second, the entire world seemed to disappear.
Then he saw Sofia.
His expression hardened.
"What happened?"
Sofia stood.
"My father knows Elena is involved."
Marius's jaw tightened.
"Your father knows nothing."
"He knows about the recording."
Marius went still.
I watched his face.
"There's a recording?"
He didn't answer.
"Marius."
He looked at me.
"Yes."
My chest tightened.
"Of your father's murder?"
He nodded.
I stared.
"You knew?"
"I knew someone had recorded part of that night."
"And you never told me?"
He looked ashamed.
"I was trying to find it before anyone else did."
I laughed bitterly.
"Of course."
Marius stepped closer.
Then stopped.
"Elena, I know I've lost your trust."
I looked away.
"I don't know if you ever had it."
His face crumpled.
Sofia spoke quietly.
"Marius, my father won't stop."
He turned toward her.
"Then I'll give him what he wants."
Sofia froze.
"What?"
Marius looked at me.
"My shares in the shipping companies. My voting rights. The contracts."
I stared.
"You'd give up your empire?"
He nodded.
"If that's what it takes to keep you both alive."
Sofia covered her mouth.
"Marius, you can't."
He looked at her.
"I can."
I felt tears sting my eyes.
For years, Marius had treated his empire like the center of his existence.
Every meeting.
Every negotiation.
Every threat.
Every sleepless night.
Now he was offering to surrender it.
For me.
I shook my head.
"No."
He stared.
"What?"
"You don't get to sacrifice everything and expect that to solve the problem."
"I don't expect anything."
"Then why do it?"
His expression softened.
"Because for three years, you've given me things I didn't deserve."
My throat tightened.
"Like what?"
"Your loyalty. Your patience. Your kindness."
He stepped closer.
"And your heart."
Tears rolled down my cheeks.
"Marius..."
He stopped in front of me.
"I knew you loved me long before you told me."
I stared.
"Then why didn't you say anything?"
His voice broke.
"Because I was afraid."
I laughed through tears.
"You?"
He nodded.
"Terrified."
"Of what?"
"That if I let myself love you, I would become the kind of man who tried to keep you."
I swallowed.
"And?"
He looked into my eyes.
"I did become that man. And I hate what it did to you."
Silence filled the church.
Then Marius slowly lowered himself onto one knee.
I froze.
Sofia gasped.
"Marius?"
He took my hand gently.
"Elena Volkov, I don't own you."
Tears spilled down my cheeks.
"I don't control you."
His voice trembled.
"And I will never again confuse loving you with having the right to decide your life."
I covered my mouth.
He looked up.
"But if there's a chance you could love me freely, without fear, without obligation, I'd spend the rest of my life earning it."
My heart shattered and healed in the same breath.
"Marius..."
He stood.
Then he whispered:
"You're mine only if you choose to be. And I am yours, if you'll have me."
I stepped into his arms.
For the first time, I kissed him without feeling trapped.
Without wondering whether I was breaking some invisible rule.
For one beautiful moment, the danger disappeared.
Then the church doors opened.
Dimitri rushed inside.
His face was pale.
"Boss."
Marius turned.
"What?"
Dimitri looked at me.
Then Sofia.
"We found Sergei Volkov."
My heart stopped.
"Where?"
Dimitri swallowed.
"At your father's old villa."
Marius went completely still.
Then Dimitri said:
"He's not alone."
I stared.
"Who is with him?"
May you like
Dimitri's voice dropped.
"Alexei Orlov."
